I like that last paragraph for several reasons, but I wonder if there will ever be the sublime 80 minutes .. I get the impression even the All Blacks tend to hold and peak

A fair trade banana skin is lurking at Welford Road this weekend and Stale have steadily built, stabilising shaky foundations. We can win, we can win well, but actually I'm expecting ugly with a win as a possible bonus

StopsyThanks Chris, Sale will be at their belligerent best I suspect after 6 wins on the bounce?
There seems to be a deep hostility to Leicester from Sale as a club, I hope the curate's egg will be enough.

Stropsy....I wonder why there is a deep hostility towards Tigers....mmmmm

Quote...
Having conceded a penalty try to London Irish the portents for the Sale pack when opposing Tigers at Welford Road must be filling Steve Diamond with trepidation – I only hope we don’t see a repeat of that disgraceful episode a few years back when they refused to scrummage and the referee let them get away with it. One bright spot is that they had Greg Garner last week so that lengthens the odds on this week’s encounter being ruined.

Get over it!

Great article ruined some what by the above....used to love coming to Welford Road but not been for a while..and not die to not winning! I persevered at Kingsholm for years and then two come along at once!....hope it is a good game and the right team win...Sale

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StopsyThanks Chris, Sale will be at their belligerent best I suspect after 6 wins on the bounce?
There seems to be a deep hostility to Leicester from Sale as a club, I hope the curate's egg will be enough.

Stropsy....I wonder why there is a deep hostility towards Tigers....mmmmm

Quote...
Having conceded a penalty try to London Irish the portents for the Sale pack when opposing Tigers at Welford Road must be filling Steve Diamond with trepidation – I only hope we don’t see a repeat of that disgraceful episode a few years back when they refused to scrummage and the referee let them get away with it. One bright spot is that they had Greg Garner last week so that lengthens the odds on this week’s encounter being ruined.

Get over it!

Great article ruined some what by the above....used to love coming to Welford Road but not been for a while..and not die to not winning! I persevered at Kingsholm for years and then two come along at once!....hope it is a good game and the right team win...Sale

So what?

In a consideration of the up-coming game it's not valid to look at previous events?

Still good to know that sale fans think that degree of cheating and refereeing malfeasance is acceptable!

In a consideration of the up-coming game it's not valid to look at previous events?

Still good to know that sale fans think that degree of cheating and refereeing malfeasance is acceptable!

Putting aside the accuracy or otherwise of the terminology, I strongly suspect that most fans of most clubs would think it acceptable, provided they come out on the right side of it! Ok, perhaps with a rather sheepish grin as they do so!

Or, if we're looking at previous events, we could just suggest our flanker knocks the ball from your scrummy's hands as he's putting in! Glass houses?

Well, I'm sad if my observation has caused offence, that wasn't the intention.

I've offered the same opinion in the past, face to face with "opposing" fans in pre and post match bars and in the stands, and nearly always found some grudging agreement ...even after the notorious "15 minute scrum" at The Rec a couple of seasons ago (and that WAS embarrassing!).

Indeed I thought at first that was the incident being referred to by ChrisC in his preview (and yes, it's excellent and very comprehensive!) but later comments make it clear we're talking about a Tigers/Sharks match. Either I didn't see that one, or I was myself suffering from that highly selective vision I've been suggesting we all suffer from occasionally.

Whatever, I'm looking forward to Saturday and a good game, Mr W notwithstanding. Perhaps next week we can differ about which of us he disliked more!

No problem with alternative views constructively delivered as yours are Ageinghoody. You are absolutely right that we (our own team) "play to the ref", "play to the edge", "engage in sportsmanship" whereas you (other team) "cynically cheat", "are destroying the game", "thugs", "will someone think of the children".

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